All about the Lips

I like to keep my lips in tip top shape.  Dry lips look horrible with lipstick and I hate the feeling of dry chapped lips.

So a while back I purchased a new tub of lip scrub from Lush and I use this a few times each week after I have removed my make up.  After gently scrubbing my lips I slather on a soothing balm, either Elizabeth Arden's 8 hour cream, Carmex or vaseline and let that soak right in and work overnight.

In the mornings before putting on my make up I use a lip balm from MAC and I always carry a balm with me to use before applying lipstick or if I am not wearing a gloss.  My current favorite balms are the Sleek Pout Polish received in my Glossybox a few weeks ago and Crème de la Mer The Lip Balm.  The Crème de la Mer Lip Balm is very expensive admittedly at £42 a pot available here but lasts absolutely ages, is very softening and has a minty taste, lipstick sits nicely on the top.

Finally to add to moisture when adding colour to my lips I like creamy lipsticks that are not too drying or lip glosses.  My favorite lipsticks are the cremesheen lipsticks from MAC with a vast array of shades or the Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm.  The Chubby Sticks are easy to apply and feel soft on the lips and come in a beautiful array of shades.

What I am loving in March

This month is it all about getting the skin right ready to unpeel the layers worn over winter.

My skin does get dry over the winter season despite my best efforts.  The movement between warm dry buildings into cold damp air really does frazzle my hair and skin.
I visited Lush a few weekends ago and purchased a few things to kick things off my spring skin care routine.

First up was the Lush "Full of Grace" facial serum bar.
Lush say "this preservative-free, all-natural and gentle bar is jammed with Amazonian softening butters, calming chamomile, and skin-protecting Portobello mushrooms to help retain elasticity and keep you looking radiant. We use this in our Validation facial treatment in our Lush Spas, and it’s great to use at home before a Fresh Face Mask to boost its effects or as a night cream."
I have been using it for over a week and my skin does feel soft after using it and is great to use just before sleep.

Next up was a fresh face mask "The Sacred Truth".
Lush say "Ginseng and ginkgo leaf are said to boost blood circulation, whilst honey, yoghurt and free range eggs leave skin soft and moisturised. Green tea and fresh wheatgrass are full of antioxidants, allowing your skin to feel fresh, cleansed and revitalised. Wheatgrass is full of nutrients to feed your skin, whilst the enzymes in fresh papaya will strip away dead skin, giving you a youthful glow."
I really love the fresh face masks from Lush, they smell great and feel lovely on the skin.

I absolutely love the massage bars from Lush, great to use on your own or on someone.  I purchased 2 for myself, the first "Peace" is really softening and the scent is choc full of essential oils.  The second is "Tender is the Night" that smells of vanilla and jasmine leaves a great scent on the skin whilst softening it.

I also purchased "Wiccy Magic Muscles" massage bar for Mr JAEG, to use after the gym, it smells great.

The last item was their lip scrub in "Popcorn", goes without saying what this does.  I love the scent and how it makes my lips feel after using it.

I like Lush and their products I love how they have a stance with regard to animal testing, how they have their campaigns, support charities and are as environmentally friendly as possible.

Check out their products here

Goodbye February

I am writing this in my newly built home office and I am so pleased we decided to go ahead and get sharps in to design and build.  I find this new room a haven from the world, a place to retreat should I need to take time out for the hustle and bustle.
I am much better compared to this time last year, anxiety has not disappeared, (I am not sure it ever will) but it is at a level I can manage now.  That has helped everything else get back on track and on board.  I am grateful that I have my partner and family around me and that they have made me realise that no matter what they are there for me.  I highly recommend if you are every struggling in life to find someone to speak to, whether it be the Samaritans, doctor, trusted friend or a family member.  It is easier said than done but I urge anyone who feels they are up against it to speak up, speak out and tell someone how you feel.

I cannot believe we are now in March, boy this year is really moving at a pace but I am glad we are heading towards spring (although winter was not hideous and cold just hideous and wet).  As yet Ofsted have not been into check us out and the pressure is felt, I have decided to ignore the pressure and do what I have always done and that is my job to the best I can with the tools I have.  There is no way Ofsted will see me or my team in a bad light, we are good at what we do and I lead a fantastic team.  I am making sure we are spot on without pilling on the stress and pressure others may be getting.

This new home office has a place for me to take time out, to work and to do my craft, something which has helped me keep stress and anxiety under control.  I am back to dressmaking as I can get to my sewing machine and this is a love I have always kept hidden until now.  I love dressmaking, I am still a novice but its a bit like my beauty passion, it is not hurting anyone and I love trying out new things, new methods and building a wardrobe of clothes that are unique.  Next I will be back to jewellery making too, I have the space now!

So onto what I have loved in February.

TV

• Not strictly TV but watchable all the same and that is House of Cards - Kevin Spacey is amazing in it and I have had to watch season 2 twice now.
• Eastenders - it was great to see Stacey back in the square.
• Jonathan Creek - he is back for a short season and the first episode was great.
• Silk - another BBC programme that is fantastic.
• Line of Duty - gripping.

Film

Thanks to Netflix and now Amazon Prime I have watched a fair few films this past month, the stand out ones are:

• Out of Time
• The Final Destination Films
• Iron Man (1 and 2)
• Olympus has fallen - watched last year on a flight, glad its on Netflix

Beauty

• I have loved my Sigma brushes this month.
• MAC creme blush (all shades) less drying at this time of year.
• MAC lipstick in Fanfare, a beautiful pink.
• Lush body bars, smell divine and soften the skin.
• Inglot shadows.
• My Urban Decay Naked 3 pallet
• Smashbox pallet

Eats

• Mini eggs, I love when Easter is close and I have an excuse to eat them.
• Miller and Carter restaurants, we had an amazing meal in there last week and it is now our new place to go.
• Sodastream
• Nespresso, still making great coffee.

I hope you had a wonderful February and enjoying March.

Upheaval & adding to my makeup

We are now in the midst of major work being completed in the house.  The study has been fully ripped out the old desks are being sold off and the new furniture has been delivered ready to be fitted together Monday.
My living space has turned upside down with the other rooms in the house being used as makeshift study areas.  In the past I would have hated this but I like seeing work in progress now and I can see that short term pain is long term gain.
The new carpet has been ordered and the walls will be repainted in shades of peacock blue and gold.  I cannot wait to see the finished room.

In all the upheaval I have kept my beauty routine the same.  I have to say that I have been very impressed with my Sigma brushes, they are as good as my MAC brushes for applying my eye make up.  The Real Technique brushes are still the best for applying my face make up.  The Expert Face Brush is perfect for applying foundation and making it look flawless. The Stippling Brush is perfect for applying the cream blushers I have from MAC and the Buffing Brush is brilliant for adding face powder to the shiny parts of the face.
I have been reading a lot about Inglot, I remember years ago they were in Bluewater Shopping Centre and I had purchased a hand cream from them.  The hand cream has long been used up and I saw the name Inglot on a recent blog post that they were still around in the UK.  I looked around some more and I liked the look of the Freedom System.  This is similar to the MAC pallets but the eye shadows are at a fraction of the price.  An Inglot 4 space pallet is £6 compared to a MAC at £6.50 but the money saving is in the actual eye shadows.  Inglot shadows for the Freedom System (square) is £4.50 and come in about 100 different shades and finishes with each shadow weighing a minimum of 2.3g, the MAC shadows are £10 each and again come in a brilliant range for colours and finishes but weigh 1.5g.  The Freedom System is not just for eye shadows but for face powders, brows, blush, lips and concealers.  There is a choice between round and square pallets with or without mirrors, with or without applicators and as a result you have a totally customized system for make up.  My favorite pallet is the Freedom System Palette EBP retails at £10 and has large square that is for a pressed powder, a rectangle for blush, and two smaller squares for either eye shadow or concealer or lip.  This makes it the perfect pallet for a night out, slim enough to slip into a small clutch with product to take you through an evening.
I decided that I would purchase the Freedom System Palette 4 Eye Shadow Square and 4 shadows as a test.  The shadows purchased are:
471 - An olive green shade
333 - A beautiful dark green
338 - A dark cornflower blue
387 - A muted grey with a hint of purple.

Depending on how they look and work I will add to my collection with colours I don't have at the moment in my collection.
I will add pictures once I have finished with all the upheaval.

Have you owned anything from Inglot, I would be glad to hear from you?

Admitting being wrong and other musings

It is not often I have to admit I was wrong but here is a time when I am going to do just that and put my hands up.
When I received my January Glossy Box I was completely underwhelmed by a few of the products, one of which was the Yu-Be cream.  Since using it for the last few weeks I am very impressed and it will be on my list of repurchases.  I love the smell and the texture of the cream and it really does protect the skin from the harshness of the cooler air or the ravages of the centrally heated buildings.  It reminds me of the Egyptian Magic Cream I have been using these last few months.

I have been using my Real Techniques brushes and I love them.  I think most of the brushes are brilliant and do an amazing job but (there is always a but) I think the eye brushes are not up to the standard compared to the other brushes.  I have kept at it for a few months hoping they would soften up and work as well as my old MAC brushes but this week I called time on them.  I have purchased the Sigma Eye Kit to replace my Real Technique eye brushes.  It is too early to say whether they are up to the standard of the MAC brushes I used to have but I do like having the chance to break open a new set.











I am so happy that ELF have opened up in the UK , I have ordered 2 large brush holders, I have been wanting one for so long .  I want to take a road trip to the store but that may have to wait until Easter.
February is an amazing month, firstly half term slots right in halfway through which means we are a half way through the school year.  Secondly February is a short month, bringing us closer to my birthday.  Also there are lots of great films out this month me and Mr JAEG will be going to the cinema a fair bit this month.

I am loving this advert http://www.youtube.com/user/CadburyUK?v=aKNqojGjT_Q

My January Favorites

I know January has left us and you could say that my post is a little late to cover the items I liked during January but I wanted to sit and think about what I liked as I had chopped and changed a lot of items over the month.  The selection is not the largest compared to other posts, I have put the items into categories to show they are not all make up related.  Here goes!

Make up
Only 3 things have been an out and out favorite for me in January.

1. MAC foundation - I am using the rest of my studio fix foundation in but I am also enjoying the new Studio Sculpt purchased a few weeks ago.  Both give great coverage and keeps the coverage going until the end of the day.
2. I am liking my Clinique Chubby Sticks, I am using the most recent purchase mostly at the moment as the berry colour sits well for the time of year.  They are so moisturising with a good colour pay off and easy to put on and wear when in a rush.
3. Clinique Take The Day Off Balm has been a hit with me.  I like the texture and how well it removes the most stubborn of my make up.

Hair

1. I am really liking the L'oreal studio line #TXT supersizing spray. click here.  Words cannot describe how much I love using this product, it gives great volume and texture without it being sticky or hard to brush out.
   
2. The second thing is my new hair style and colour, I made a change to my hair colour a few months back but had it done again this week and it looks amazing, thank you D!

TV & Film

1. Those of you who follow me on twitter would see that I have been loving the latest round of Celebrity Big Brother, since it ended my TV schedule has not been the same.  I have never known a bunch of 'celebrities' show themselves in such a poor light it was like a group of Justin Beibers in one place.
2. I loved Wolf of Wall Street.
3. I sat with Mr JAEG this weekend and watched Olympus Has Fallen, I had seen it before but it was well worth watching again.

Clothes

1. I have been loving my Zara double sided scarf.  It is huge, like a blanket with a black and white dog tooth pattern on one side and a red tartan on the other.  I would post a link but Zara sold out ages ago.  It is so soft and really does keep you warm.
2. I also love my Black and Yellow Barbour jacket, not too thick that I cannot breathe but enough padding to take the chill off.  The weather in the UK has not been cold enough to wear thick jackets, it has just been raining a heck of a lot!

So what have you been loving so far this year?

Compact pots of happiness

I remember as a little girl sitting nearby mum whilst she got her powder compact out to check her face and redo her lipstick.  My memory tells me it was blue and maybe had a bird design on it, like swans.  I used to play with this compact and pretend I was patting powder over my face like I had seen on TV and what my mum did. I do wonder where that compact is now.

Top row: Loose powder compact/1st compact
Bottom row: Epcot compact/latest compact

I have owned a powder compact since I was little, I am not sure who gave me my first one either my mum or my nan but despite who it was I still have it.  It was made by Stratton, the label on the bottom says Stratton England as they manufactured compacts in England at the time, I guess by now you can call it vintage (boy do I feel old now!).  Although old it has a timeless design on the top and is very girlie.

Floral vintage

Original sifter intact

In 1999/2000 I was given my second compact, it was purchased in "Japan Land" in Disney's Epcot centre, this one holds special memories as it was the first time in the States and the first time in Disney.

Japanese design, made in Japan bought in Epcot

 This compact has been in daily use ever since.
My third compact was purchased at a fayre, this was to celebrate my jewellery making stall, I like this compact as it holds loose powder very will with no risk of spillage.

Holds loose powder

Internal lip stops powder spillage.

My last compact was fairly recent compared to the others and was given to me by my mum.  This one again made by Stratton but by now the manufacturing had moved from England, the label on the bottom omits the England, how sad.

Latest Stratton with blue leaf design

Currently holding loose powder under the sifter

I decided that I was going to get all my compacts out, give them a clean, make sure they are still fit for purpose and use them all.  I wanted to add the timeless glamour back into my make up bag.

The first thing was to get powders that fit in the pan.  This was a tough task as some powders are small than the pan size, some are now square (thank you benefit) and some just do not have the colour/formula I look for.  I spent some time during a recent shopping trip trying to find refills that will fit into the compact and I can tell you the number of products is limited to say the least.
I looked at MAC although the pan would fit into the compact (sitting in the sifter) the trouble in getting the pan out of the MAC compact would be too much, first you would have to break away the MAC plastic housing and then try to wedge something sharp between the remaining plastic and the pan to force it out.  It is hit and miss, sometimes you could be successful getting the pan and the powder pressed inside the pan out intact but most times the powder could crack and crumble under the pressure of forcing the pan out of the plastic.  I know this as I have tried a few times in the past and I am just not willing to fork out the money only for the product to crack and get wasted.
Benefit was a no no as they have changed their packaging so that their powders are in a square pan.
Smashbox had no products suitable and Stila did not have any powders out to compare.
I decided to head towards the 'drug store' end and I looked at the products at the displays in Boots.  he problem I have here is that most of the products do not have a tester, the spaces where testers should be lay empty and standing by these displays trying to see if a product would fit into my compact made me, well lets just say I looked dodgy.
Finally I gave up and I went on line and looked at what the wonderful world of blogging had for me, first stop http://powdercompacts.wordpress.com/2011/06/11/how-to-refill-replace-powder-in-a-vintage-powder-compact/ really informative and has put me on the right road at last.  I also looked at http://twenty-something-sherbet.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/refilling-vintage-powder-compacts.html this blog post backed up the first one.  Finally http://annieanniepancake.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/how-tuesday-how-to-refill-vintage.html explained what to do if I wanted to use loose powder.

Range of ways of holding powder.

I think its a shame that the golden age of the glamour powder compacts is slowly fading as seen with the limited amount of refills and I will do my bit to keep the glamour alive.

January 2014 Glossybox - Back to Basics

So the Glossybox theme for January is "Back to Basics" I kind of like the sound of that I thought as I opened the box up.
Firstly the box has been slightly revamped, it is glossy and feels nice to the touch.  I use the boxes after I have emptied them out for all sorts of things, I have one holding my belts and buckles, one for my pens at work, one holding my cotton wool pads I could go on.

Back to Basics

I opened the box right up and this bit is always thrilling to me as I have a sense of expectation of what I will find inside.  Some months I am happy, others not so sometimes I am on the fence.  This month fell into the fence category.  I always read the magazine that comes with the box but even that did not set me alight with inspiration compared to other months.

The first thing I laid eyes on were the 2 small tubes of Yu-Be moisturising skin cream.  click here for more details.  A little does go a long way and yes it is a nice cream but I was not over impressed after using it a few times and its not a repurchase product for me.

I then picked out the Anatomicals Puffy The Eye Bag Slayer Wake-Up Under Eye Patches click here.  Great name for a product and although I have not used it yet I know I am going to like it.  The packaging is bright and funky and after using their facial spray I know these eye patches will suit my skin.  The price is at a good price point £6.00 for a 3 pack and I know I will repurchase.

I pulled out next Vaseline Essential Moisture Lotion, the brand is already a firm favorite already with me, I use the spray formulas and like them so seeing this in the box was a good thing as I will use it but also a let down as I like to try new untried products with my subscription. Vaseline products is available in many places including Boots click here.  I prefer the spray function much easier in the mornings and I highly recommend the spray and go moisturiser click here

Next out was tweezers.  Now I groaned, I like tweezers and I have a few but the fact is one or two of mine have come from previous Glossy Boxes so I have a few already in my collection.  These tweezers are from The Vintage Cosmetic Company click here and look nice, floral and pretty but are no different the the HD Brows tweezers sent a few months back or any of the others I own. These will be given away and I hope someone else will enjoy them.

My last item out was Balance Me Super Toning Body Wash click here, nice smell not convinced about the toning part but lathers up and the fragrance stays with you for a good while after.  A nice product but nothing amazing.

Vaseline/Anatomicals/Yu-Be/Balance me/The Vintage Cosmetic Company

Vaseline/Anatomicals/Yu-Be/Balance me/The Vintage Cosmetic Company

Balance me/Vaseline

Anatomicals/The Vintage Cosmetic Company

Mixed feelings about this Glossy Box, but on the whole I was left disappointed but the products inside.
If you subscribe to Glossy Box did you feel the same?

Cinema, food and more shopping

It's been a frustrating week this week but as I look back I can't work out where the frustrations were coming from. The things I had put my mind to worked well and to my advantage, I was formally observed and got amazing positive feedback which is always good to hear, interviews are going well and I felt on top of my game. Maybe it's that time of year joined in with the tiredness I think the cold wet days and the long dark nights don't appeal to all.

We decided mid week that we would go to the cinema, lots of great films out now and coming out in February so I booked up "The Wolf of Wall Street".  Oh boy, did that bring back memories and a light bulb went on about halfway through.  When I was in my previous incarnation I would not suffer fools, but I realised that now working with kids slowly but surely I have become softer, more patient and dare I say it I care more deeply.  It sounds like a good thing and to be honest it is but I need to be aware and not be taken advantage of, not that I think anyone around me can take advantage of me now but I need to be aware that there will be some people who for their own selfish reasons could play on my new softer side.

So before the cinema we went shopping, I needed supplies.  My skin went very dry this week, the cold damp weather has not been helping, I move from warm dry cozy rooms to the cold 6 or so times a day and my skin does not know what way is up.  I decided to leave my skin alone this week, using gentle cleansing methods and my make up consisted of cream products such as MAC cream blush and liquid bronzer.

The first place I headed to was Boots and the Clinique counter, I wanted a tub of Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm I heard some good things about this product and the consistency looked nourishing to me, I used it for the first time last night so it is too early to say whether the product will suit me but I liked how my face felt after using the product.  I also purchased a new Chubby Stick in Broadest Berry, I love these easy to use lip gloss/chap stick they are so moisturizing with a good amount of colour.

Last weeks purchases. MAC studio Sculpt NW20/MAC Cremeblend Blush Ladyblush

Last week whilst on the way to Arsenal I stopped off for my foundation, in my rush to get to the Emirates I forgot to get a new mascara and powder bronzer.  So after seeing the lovely ladies on the Clinique counter I headed to the Boots make up displays and picked 2 mascaras the first was Maybelline big eyes mascara, I liked the fact that it was a double ended mascara, one end for the top lashes and the other for the lower lashes.  The other was from Max Factor Excess Volume Extreme Impact Mascara another double ended mascara but this is one that builds glossy top lashes.  Both mascaras have had good write ups and I am hoping they do live up the hype.  I then went to the Smashbox counter and purchased the lightest bronzer they have, just because I live in Essex does not mean I have to be orange, but I do like to have a little definition to my face and I like having a glow to my face. I purchased the sunkissed bronzer and it looks lovely and subtle on.  I also purchased a lip gloss The O Plump will change colour that is tailored to your own lip colour whilst giving a bit of ommph to the lips.

I moved on to Lush and I purchased a few things for the body and bath plus a face mask to help with dry skin Oatifix smells divine and I did so want to eat it but I hope it does what it says on the tub!

Lush King of Skin/Clinique Chubby Stick/Smashbox bronzer/Smashbox O-Plump/Lush Oatifix/Max Factor Volume Extreme/Maybelline Big Eyes.

After the film (which was very good) we had a late lunch/early dinner at Jamies Italian, amazing food and great service.  I wanted to take a picture of my dinner but I totally got caught up with the yummy smells I tucked right in without a second thought.  I had a burger (no surprise there as I am a burger addit) and and garlic chips.  I was so full I could not finish it off and I wish I had taken it away in a doggy bag.  Mr JAEG had a meatball pizza followed by a lush looking lemon meringue pie.  I would love to go back and try some other things on the menu, it all looked very nice.
Today will be spend clearing out the study in readiness for the surveyor and then a fitted home office.
I hope you are all having a lovely weekend.

Changing

We are almost 2 weeks in to 2014 and they have gone by so quick.
I was back to work on Monday, the first day back after the Christmas break is always inset and in my place we use it as a review day of what went well and even better if......
I guess schools are no different to individuals in wanting to reflect back over the past year so see what did work and what could have been improved.
As I was driving into work one morning I suddenly realised how different I was now compared to this time last year.  I was ill in January 2013 and I was struggling to cope with all sorts of issues, anxiety being one of them.  Anxiety came about as I was ill and the doctors could not figure out what was wrong and it took until mid March to get to a point of knowing what was wrong with me and starting to put it right.  I spent the first part of 2013 very unhappy, highly anxious, ill and upset.  Now I feel contentment, I am better with regard to my anxiety and I am on the right track once again.  I don't often want to think about those dark days let alone discuss in the public domain.  However I feel that I wanted to share the message of hope to those who need it, it is the truth when you hear the saying it is always darkest before dawn.  If you are in a bad place there is always hope, the first step on the road to recovery is always the hardest but once you make that first step things do get easier. I am enjoying life once again, singing in the car and looking forward to all the little things in life.  I think the one thing I have taken from the last year is that we cannot change our past as it has happened and we cannot wait for the future but to concentrate on the here and now. I once wanted a tattoo saying "That which doesn’t kill us makes us stronger" quoted from Fredrich Nietzsche, who knows I may still go for it to add to my 6 others but for now I am happy enough to just reflect on that.
I know some people keep a happiness journal, others a normal journal but I wanted to start something else off for 2014.  I purchased a book from Amazon called Q & A a day - 365 questions, 5 years, 1825 answers.  It has a fabulous quote in the front by Andy Warhol "they always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself" and I thought this quote summed up perfectly the last year.  This book is great, its not a huge commitment just a few lines each day answering the question of the day and this journal gives you the opportunity to answer that question again over the next 4 years.  It is then a record of how you felt or whatever and you should be able to see the changes over the years.
The question I had to answer yesterday was "write down something that inspired you today."  Working in a school I would have thought that would be an easy question to answer, after all I read fantastic blogs each day, work with brilliant people, I am learning all the time and the students never cease to amaze me I am lucky enough to feel inspiration each and every day, but....this question was tough it was asking for one thing that inspired me, not a list.  I sat and thought about it, reflected and decided that there was a moment in the day that inspired me above all else and that was listening to John Lennon's Imagine during a year 8 Humanities class.  It has always been a lovely song to listen to but hearing with a group of 12/13 year olds it was like hearing it for the first time I could see the message was clear to them as it was to me, live life in peace.  Music plays a big part in my life at work and at home, we are a musical school the students get 2 hours of music lessons a week, music is used in other lessons and I always think a song can change the mood of a lesson or the mood of an individual.
Wow deep I didn't mean for this to be so deep.

So....moving on.
I decided that along with the new year, new term I was going to try out a new routine with regard to beauty.  First off I decided that I will double clean my skin of a night, especially when I have been wearing make up.  I use Liz Earle's Hot Cloth Cleaner first click here for details and wipe clean with a muslin cloth and then I go over with with my clarisonic and Oil of Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Cream Wash click here. After cleansing I am now using products from the Medik8 range, including the facial roller.  I will not lie, the roller was painful to start with but it took 2 or 3 days to get used to the sensation and the skin is very red for a while after (which is why the procedure is conducted at night).  Since starting that I have felt my skin really freshen up, and I am am not getting as many dry patches and break outs as I normally do this time of year.  My dental hygiene has also changed, I hate the thought of having bad teeth (or seeing people with bad teeth) I hate the dentist visits too.  So I looked around to what could help on op of the normal brushing twice daily and flossing, a new toothbrush was ordered, as my last one was on its last legs, an Oral B 5000 Trizone and with that I also ordered a Phillips Airflosser.  Since using both my teeth have become whiter, they feel smoother than before and I hope it will keep the dentist visits to the minimum.
I also changed up my work make up.  I moved back to MAC Studio Fix in NW30, I had been using Benefit's Hello Flawless in Ivory but I felt it was too pale for me and the coverage was so so, not sure I would agree with the brightening tag, but you can see I have given it a good try.

I had forgotten how much I love the feel of a MAC foundation on my skin, light, creamy with just the right amount of coverage.  I thought I would give a cream blusher a go, so I moved from Dior to MAC Blush Creme in Brit Wit.

I have a decent amount of make up and I like to change things around to keep things fresh.  With all these changes I wanted to start to keep a log of my make up, what brands, finishes, colours etc I like and what doesn't work well for me and I wondered how other people keep a log of their make up, what they have and what works etc.  I sort of what to keep a note of all my products and also what I want to buy, so I dont buy duplicates when I have no need to, so I know when I go shopping what I do want to purchase and also what works for me what doesn't.  So I am going to end this by asking what do you do to keep track of your make up, do you note your products or just rely of remembering?  It would be good to hear from you.